Youth and women's groups at the JIA on Wed, 12 Feb. 2020 | Credit | Facebook

Hundreds of people have gathered at Juba International Airport, awaiting the arrival of President Salva Kiir.

The President had attended an IGAD meeting and the AU summit in Addis Ababa over the weekend. However, he had to proceed to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to pay his respects to late Mzee Moi.

During the meetings, Kiir vowed not to drop a single state, hence the discussions ended without tangible results.

Those gathered at the airport include state governors, local chiefs, youth and women.

Some of them are carrying banners with writings: “Youth reject reduction of 32 states plus Abyei Administrative Area”.

As seen on the state-run SSBC, the state governors who have been campaigning for maintenance of the current 32 states, lined up to speak to the TV in turns.

Governors recently told the media that they supported President Kiir’s position on the number of states.

The disagreement over the number of states is seen as a potential threat to the establishment of the unity government, slated for 22 February.